People should not make the mistake of assuming that Black cops would generally relate better with Black people than White cops. Those in charge of the system train and instruct Black cops to be just as brutal to other Blacks as their White counterparts. This should not be surprising as history informs us, dating back to the period of African enslavement, that the plantocracy would often bequeath a select few Blacks with power to mete out punishment on their behalf. Then, as it is today, some of these Blacks had often exercised their punitive powers to extreme degrees because they aligned more with the oppressor than with those under their charge. Police are modern-day overseers who are charged with protecting the interests of the elite and its state structures.

For the most part, all police receive similar training and are instructed to target particular communities and people. Black cops know that if they do not toe the line they would not stand much of a chance keeping their jobs or getting promoted. Moreover, the power that comes with being a cop often alters one's mind-set. For most of them, it is the only time they feel a sense of power over others and they are prone to abusing it. Of course, there are some cops who would genuinely like to be better; once they are not challenged, they are usually okay at what they do. But for the most part, they still cannot be viewed positively because their job is to prop up a system that is flawed and is meant to serve the interests of the White establishment, often at the expense of Black lives.

--Ayinde

Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland